§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that China's most-favoured nation status is only reviewed after an improvement in its record on human rights.
§ Mr. BaldryWe regularly urge the Chinese authorities to improve their human rights record. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the issue during his visit to China last July and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so with the Chinese Foreign Minister in September. But we have consistently held the view that trade and politics should be treated as separate. Trading and economic relationships are helping to open up the Chinese system and promote the country's development, to the benefit of the Chinese people.